Revelation

            A woman from our congregation recently asked me to read a book written by member of our church and then give her my opinion and feedback.  The book is a commentary on the book of Revelation.  As my wife and I sat visiting with this ninety-two year old woman, I briefly scanned the book, noting that it is not written from a scholarly perspective, rather by a man who has spent most of his life doing pulpit work within the Restoration brotherhood.  To be honest, I really wasn’t looking forward to reading what I could see is a book that has very little value to my life, or anyone else’s for that matter.  So, I explained to this fine Christian woman that if she really wanted me to read the book and give her my feedback I would, but first I wanted to give her a short synopsis of my feelings on the book of Revelation.
            Over the years I have found that a lot of new Christians want to study Revelation.  I’m not sure why all the fascination with a book that can be so confusing.  I find that the greatest value comes from the first few chapters, and, quite frankly, most of us don’t really understand their significance.  Jesus speaks to seven churches in Asia and finds serious fault with six of them.  However, all seven are referred to as the Lord’s church.  None of them are alike, they differ from each other in spectacular fashion.  Yet, it would appear they all have fellowship with one another.  If Christendom really understood these first few chapters we would not see the disunity that is so prevalent.  The world would see a church that is diverse, imperfect, and a lot less hypocritical.  They just might see Christ’s love being demonstrated within the church, instead of enmity.  But, we don’t get it.  We would rather point out the flaws of the six churches of Asia and smugly say, “We’re sure glad we aren’t like them!”
            Now we get to the meat of most peoples request to study Revelation – the prophecy.  As a young man, just getting started in ministry, two of my most valued mentors held opposing views of the millennium, which is what most of Revelation is talking about, right?  I mean, we get a glimpse of heaven and hell, but mostly we want to find out about the apocalypse, the end times, Christ’s reign over the earth.  You know, those kinds of things.  In short, the millennium.  Well, one of my mentors was pre-millennial, while the other was post-millennial.  And then to round it out, I tend to be amillennial.  Truth is, no matter which millennial view one chooses, the end result is the same – we win!  Prophetical scripture is interesting with its word pictures and descriptions of things spiritual and other-worldly, but let’s face it.  The only time anyone has known for certain what the prophecy meant is when it is fulfilled and revealed.  Even then, there are those who question the validity of the fulfillment.  It doesn’t take a lot of scholarship to read much of the Old Testament prophecy and see how it was fulfilled in the life and death of Jesus Christ.  However, there are very scholarly people who do not see the fulfillment that seems so obvious to we Christians.
            It just seems to me that we have much more important matters at hand than trying to interpret prophecy that is, or has, coming, or came, or will come, or whatever, to pass.  Aren’t we Christians assured of our salvation?  Don’t we know that however Revelation is interpreted we will be with the Lord for eternity?  If this is so, and it should be, then shouldn’t we be redeeming the time we have in this life in a more productive manner?  I don’t see the apostles spinning their wheels with prophecy.  They were too busy trying to help win the world for Jesus!  Isn’t it enough to be about our Father’s business?  Sure, read Revelation, but read it at face value.  Enjoy it, cherishing it as a portion of God’s word.  Then, turn back to the Gospels and learn more of the Christ, our vanquishing hero of the apocalypse.  Find out how He wants us to live our lives.  See if you are going to have enough time in this life to fulfill His design for our lives.  I just bet you’ll find out that our time is too short to even begin to accomplish the Lord’s edicts.  Oh, by the way, our ninety-two year old friend agreed to not burden either of us with the commentary.  Whew!